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2 Dead, 15 Injured Outside A Kansas City Club Late Sunday

Sam Zeff
/
KCUR 89.3
The 9ine Ultra Lounge in Kansas City, Missouri.

Updated at 5 p.m. Monday

Two people died and 15 were injured in a shooting late Sunday outside of a nightclub near U.S. 40 and Noland Road in Kansas City.

Officers were called to 9ine Ultra Lounge at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, and found a dead woman and man, according to the Associated Press. At least 15 other people were taken or drove themselves to area hospitals; early Monday, at least three were listed in critical condition.

Police identified the dead gunman as 29-year-old Jahron Swift of Kansas City. He had multiple weapons, according to the KCPD Chief Rick Smith.

Smith also said the 9ine Ultra Lounge was on the department's radar and officers had made periodic checks of the parking lot, including on Sunday night.

"I know there were three sergeants who made a swing through the lot at various stages and the last one left about a minute prior to the shooting," Smith said.

Also dead is 25-year-old Raeven Parks of Kansas City.

"An armed security guard at the business engaged the shooter outside of the establishment," police said in their initial statement early Monday morning. As of Monday afternoon, they had not provided additional details about what provoked the shooting.

KCPD confirmed there had been a drive-by shooting outside the same bar on Monday, Jan. 13. The male victim suffered non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The owner of a nearby business in the same strip mall told KCUR the bar had been trouble since it opened a few months ago.

“It’s been nothing but bad news for us. Us small business owners. We’re out here cleaning up the parking lot, picking up after everyone comes on the weekends," said Jesse King, who owns Moving Kings. "It’s just terrible.”

King said KCPD detectives were in his office after the drive-by on Jan. 13.

"They were in to take the camera footage. I don't know what's going to happen with that," he said.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said investigators from the city's regulated industries division will be at the bar on Tuesday.

“City leadership will look at this club. We’ll consider whether it is a nuisance. If it meets those standards then we have remedies up to and including temporary revocation of the license.”

As reporters first gathered at the scene early Monday morning, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said it was a "tragic end to such a wonderful day in Kansas City," referring to the Chiefs' victory in the AFC Championship Game, which sends the team to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years.

"So, it is hard to stand here and talk about this kind of tragedy on one of the best days Kansas City has seen in a long time," she said. "But here we are."

Lucas said in a tweet early Monday that his thoughts were with the families and friends of those affected by the violence.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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